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Population/Demographics

One in three parental leave users in South Korea is now a dad

A total of 184,519 parents in South Korea took parental leave in 2025, and men accounted for 67,196 of them.
A total of 184,519 parents in South Korea took parental leave in 2025, and men accounted for 67,196 of them.

US population growth slows sharply due to less immigration

US President Donald Trump has scaled up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants and limit legal immigration.
US President Donald Trump has scaled up efforts to deport undocumented immigrants and limit legal immigration.

S’pore must do more integration as immigration crucial for economy amid low birth rate: Jeffrey Siow

Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the need for immigration comes amid concerning demographic realities such as Singapore’s “abysmal” total fertility rate.
Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the need for immigration comes amid concerning demographic realities such as Singapore’s “abysmal” total fertility rate.

What birth rate crisis? Here’s how one city in Taiwan is bucking the island’s worrying trend

A playground at Kuan Hsin borough in Hsinchu. The city has the highest proportion of children to the total number of residents in Taiwan.
A playground at Kuan Hsin borough in Hsinchu. The city has the highest proportion of children to the total number of residents in Taiwan.

The Kurdish struggle for rights and land

FILE PHOTO: Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivers a speech on the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad's fall, in Damascus, Syria December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa delivers a speech on the first anniversary of Bashar al-Assad's fall, in Damascus, Syria December 8, 2025. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi/File Photo

Hopeful yet wary, Venezuelans across Latin America mull going home

A drone view shows a boat bound for Colombia carrying Venezuelan migrants as it sails near the coast of Colon while they return to Venezuela following deportation, failed attempts to enter the United States amid renewed hopes of returning home following the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro and prospects for democratic elections and economic recovery, in Miramar, Panama, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun
A drone view shows a boat bound for Colombia carrying Venezuelan migrants as it sails near the coast of Colon while they return to Venezuela following deportation, failed attempts to enter the United States amid renewed hopes of returning home following the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro and prospects for democratic elections and economic recovery, in Miramar, Panama, January 15, 2026. REUTERS/Enea Lebrun

What China’s falling population means for its future

China's fertility rate fell to 1.3 in 2020, far below the 2.1 needed to keep the population stable, excluding migration.
China's fertility rate fell to 1.3 in 2020, far below the 2.1 needed to keep the population stable, excluding migration.

China’s wedding dress sellers pin hopes on rise in marriages

A declining interest in marriage and family among young Chinese is widely blamed on the high cost of childcare and education.
A declining interest in marriage and family among young Chinese is widely blamed on the high cost of childcare and education.

China’s population drops for fourth year as fewer babies born

The total number of births in China dropped to 7.92 million in 2025, its lowest in decades, from 9.54 million in 2024.
The total number of births in China dropped to 7.92 million in 2025, its lowest in decades, from 9.54 million in 2024.

Switzerland is asking itself: Is 10 million people too many?

About 27 per cent of the people living in Switzerland are not Swiss citizens.
About 27 per cent of the people living in Switzerland are not Swiss citizens.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.